Sexual dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis: a hot but sensitive issue.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has considerable personal impact for sufferers and their families. Those with RA suffer from pain, restricted joint movements, and fatigue, and can have problems with self-esteem and body image. It is also possible that medication causes sexual problems. Research on the subject is limited, and shows a divergent picture. Assessment for sexual dysfunction in clinical practice might be another hurdle, as patients and health professionals are reluctant to discuss this issue face to face. The aim of the work carried out and described in this article was to study the possibility of implementing sexual dysfunction assessment into standard rheumatology clinical practice. Results revealed that the multidimensional patient-reported outcome measures questionnaire offered the opportunity to assess the disease activity parameters, functional disability, quality of life, sexual dysfunction, and self-helplessness in one format. The patients appeared willing to complete questionnaires and this may be an acceptable tool for assessment. Improving patient education, as well as nurse-patient communication, through discussions about available options may minimize patients' feelings of isolation in addressing the problem and could help compensate for negative effects resulting from the disease.